By
Rebecca Gibson |
When designing entrances onboard cruise ships and passenger ferries, shipowners must consider several key factors. First, they must look at how many people are likely to walk in and out of the entrance over a given period, as well as the routes they will take once they are inside the vessel. Next, they must explore how to keep entrances clean and dry to minimise the risk of slips, trips and falls.
Installing a well-designed entrance flooring system that reduces the amount of dirt and moisture brought onboard via shoes and the wheels of equipment can also help shipowners to prevent interior floor coverings becoming dirty and structurally damaged. Estimates suggest that shipowners could face repair and maintenance costs of up to nine times their original investment throughout the lifespan of their floor coverings if they do not take effective measures to avoid this issue.
Designed and manufactured by Forbo Flooring Systems, Coral Marine FR is a textile floor covering that has been certified for use in entrances and transitional areas onboard passenger ships by the International Maritime Organization. It also complies with Marine Equipment Directive standards.
The cut pile floor covering is made from 60 per cent wool and 40 per cent nylon fibres, which ensures it is durable and stops up to 95 per cent of walked-in dirt and moisture. This reduces the risk of people slipping, decreases cleaning costs and prolongs the lifetime of onboard floor finishes and coverings that may be affected by residual soiling. In addition, the PVC and phthalate-free floor covering is available in a range of contemporary colours and can be cut to size, enabling it to be tailored to suit any entrance and interior design scheme.
Coral Marine FR is also a highly sustainable product. All Forbo Flooring’s electricity comes from renewable sources, which means that its Coral Marine FR production site is part of an effective environmental management system and has achieved ISO 14001 certification. In addition, the site produces virtually no landfill because all the waste yarn is reused by the yarn supplier.
“From how they’re made to how they perform, our outstanding entrance products are truly sustainable and deliver superior performance in the toughest environments,” says Jemma Masters, marketing manager for transport at Forbo Flooring Systems.
This article was first published in the 2021 issue of Cruise & Ferry Interiors. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
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